For a long time, professional female footballers faced negative consequences upon announcing a pregnancy: they could be suspended from training, projects could be taken away, and the pregnancy itself was often viewed more as an injury than as a natural state of motherhood.
Historically, clubs feared legal liability, coaches lacked standardized data on how a pregnant athlete should move, and medical staff did not have a clear plan for managing prenatal or postpartum recovery of elite athletes. This systemic ignorance created an atmosphere of intense anxiety, forcing players to hide early pregnancies or, conversely, rush back onto the field too soon, which often led to irreversible physical damage.
Despite the fact that the sports world is focused on tournaments and trophies, a significant transformation is occurring in women's sports. The global governing body of football, FIFA, has changed the previous status quo by releasing its first science-based guide on pregnancy and the postpartum period.
This guide was developed by FIFA in collaboration with Dr. Margie Davenport, a leading pregnancy researcher from the University of Alberta, Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport and Recreation. According to Davenport, these guidelines, supported by two studies, are the first systems to offer 'actionable advice' for players, doctors, physiotherapists, and coaches.
Previously, high-level sports committees sometimes issued general health recommendations, but they only described what should happen without providing the critical structure on how to implement it safely. This initiative is a huge victory for maternal rights, bodily autonomy, and a decisive refusal to let any woman choose between salary and child.
Traditionally, the sports and medical worlds viewed pregnant athletes through the lens of risk avoidance, based on fear rather than science. The new development completely changes the approach to the active mother's body, shifting the focus from apprehension to finding solutions.
Instead of old, fear-based questions such as 'Is it safe for her to stay on the team?' or 'When should we take her off the field?', solution-oriented questions are now being asked: 'How can we safely adjust her training so she maintains connection with the team?' or 'What stage of pregnancy is she at and how can we safely increase intensity?'
In the opinion of pregnancy research pioneer Davenport, immediately sidelining a player after conception is not just unnecessary; it is completely counterproductive. Studies convincingly demonstrate that continuing modified training throughout pregnancy helps reduce birth complications and accelerates postpartum recovery.
The revolutionary aspect of this initiative is that it connects laboratory scientific data with real-world on-field experience. Game legends who survived the harsh reality of this institutional vacuum, such as American star Crystal Dunn, German goalkeeper Almut Schult, and Jamaican Chain Matthews, were literally involved in writing this guide.
These new tools, rigorously researched and tested by real athletes, coaches, and doctors, offer an actionable framework applicable at both professional and amateur levels.
The 'Stay in Play' and 'Step into Play' guides represent a traffic light style roadmap divided into three key areas:
Davenport notes: 'This is what players have been asking for for years.' Before the creation of these manuals, a toxic cloud of uncertainty forced women to guess how to protect their bodies and their income. By codifying these medical flowcharts, FIFA and players' unions eliminate the paralyzing career anxiety that plagued generations of female athletes. This compels clubs to view a player's pregnancy not as a risk or an impediment, but as a fully manageable, temporary phase of an elite career.
Wales coach Steve Tandy and his team are preparing for a serious physical clash with the world champions Springboks in Durban this Saturday, as part of the third round of the Nations Cup. The Welsh team aims to demonstrate a 'real physical advantage.'
Tandy made six changes to his squad compared to the previous weekend, strengthening the forwards for the upcoming match at Kings Park stadium, which starts at 17:40. Players such as Teddy Williams, who has fewer than 10 caps, as well as Dan Edwards and Max Llewellyn, who are the only back-rowers with fewer than 20 test matches, have been included.
Wales also decided to distribute substitutes in a 6-2 ratio in favor of the forwards, highlighting the expected physical confrontation with the world champions. After captain Dewey Lake was declared fit following injury concerns, Tandy selected a more experienced lineup for the encounter with the Springboks, hoping to finish the initial rounds of the tournament on a positive note.
Following the announcement of the squad, Tandy noted that since the season is drawing to a close and the team has traveled extensively, some players need a chance to refresh the squad. He added that South Africa is the world champion and possesses a large reserve. Wales' goal is to showcase their playing style, and they intend to show a 'real physical advantage' when playing against possibly the most physical team in the world, which is an excellent opportunity to test themselves against the best team in the world.
Wales faces perhaps the toughest challenge in the championship against the Springboks team, which seeks another victory, and Tandy hopes that his team's physical determination can match the intensity of the hosts in Durban.
The renowned Italian coach Antonio Conte gave high praise to the performance of Lionel Messi, captain of the Argentine national team, during the JCH-2026 tournament.
According to Conte, Messi once again demonstrated a level higher than expected. The coach noted that the player arrived at the tournament in excellent physical condition and once again showed his professionalism and desire to win.
Conte emphasized that despite his age—39 years old—Messi remains a decisive player for his team. He stated that one of Leo's main strengths is his football intelligence. Messi is capable of understanding what is happening on the field before others, which allows him to always take the most suitable position.
Following growing demands from opposition parties for greater transparency, the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) presented a detailed report on expenditures amounting to R30,945,370.15, which were spent on South Africa's program related to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
According to the department's data, these funds covered various expense items, including official travel, legends match, hospitality suites, spectator tickets, and program activations associated with the tournament.
The official portion of expenses, concerning Minister Gethon Mackenzie, two support staff members, the CEO, and a 14-member project team, was estimated at R7,865,134.97. This amount included international flights, accommodation, local transport, subsistence, and operational support costs.
DSAC reported that it has not yet been possible to separate Mackenzie's personal expenses from the total costs of the entire project team, as items such as logistics, protocol, and security were purchased as a single package. The department is in the process of finalizing the breakdown of expenses per individual, which will include name, position, role, city visited, duration of stay, flight information, accommodation, transport, subsistence, and other details.
DSAC clarified that the World Cup program extended beyond government officials to include artists, cultural participants, football legends, media partners, sponsored fans, and project implementation teams. It was noted that not all participants traveled at the state's expense; some costs were covered by sponsorship or implementing partners.
The Democratic Alliance and ActionSA parties continue to demand a more detailed explanation of the spending from Mackenzie. DA stated its intention to submit additional parliamentary questions and seek the minister's appearance before the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture. ActionSA questioned the economic viability of the expenditures, insisting on full ministerial openness regarding taxpayer spending on travel, accommodation, hospitality, and other benefits. The party also expressed concern that Mackenzie's personal expenses had not yet been separated from the overall delegation costs.
